Social media firm

Just when the displeasure over the Ministry of Home Affairs' notification giving 10 government agencies powers to snoop on citizens seems to be slowly dying down, here comes another move that is irking many social media users. The Central Bureau of Investigation has now asked social media platforms to run PhotoDNA as part of an investigation into regular criminal cases. The CBI has issued a notification for the same under under Section 91 of CrPC, and has said: "For the purpose of investigation, you are requested to conduct PhotoDNA in respect of photographs CBI asks social media firms to use intrusive photo tech to track suspects enclosed herewith. The said information is required very urgently for the purpose of investigation," reported the Indian Express. Social media platforms are reportedly yet to respond to the request. While CBI might have said that this is for the purpose of investigating crimes in the country, it is raising serious concerns among social media users as the … [Read more...] about India: CBI asks social media firms to run PhotoDNA to investigate suspects

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump criticised social media companies on Friday, saying without evidence that they have silenced "millions of people" in an act of censorship.Trump did not mention any companies by name. On Tuesday, Facebook Inc, Twitter Inc and Alphabet Inc removed hundreds of accounts tied to an alleged Iranian propaganda operation, while Facebook took down a second campaign it said was linked to Russia."Social Media Giants are silencing millions of people. Can’t do this even if it means we must continue to hear Fake News like CNN, whose ratings have suffered gravely. People have to figure out what is real, and what is not, without censorship!" Trump said.Trump's comments come as the social media industry faces mounting scrutiny from Congress over the policing of foreign propaganda.The Republican president in recent weeks has expressed concern about the companies' actions. In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Trump said it was "very dangerous” for … [Read more...] about Trump slams social media firms as ‘silencing millions’

Paying tribute to Princess Diana, British singer Elton John appealed for an end to the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in a speech on Friday and called on social media platforms to do more to help. Delivering the “Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture on HIV”, a series launched by the National AIDS Trust in Britain in memory of its late patron, the musician recalled when Diana famously shook hands with a man dying of AIDS in 1987 - a time when stigma around HIV/AIDS was widespread. “I am used to putting pressure on pharmaceutical companies, I am used to putting pressure on governments, we have had some success with both,” said John, 71, who has his own AIDS charitable foundation. “The pressure now needs to be applied to the tech giants – not because I think they are bad, but because they have the capacity to do so much good.” John, who sang at Diana’s funeral in 1997, warned how some social media users were hiding behind anonymity to be prejudiced … [Read more...] about Elton John urges social media firms to help end HIV/AIDS stigma

BRUSSELS: Social media companies Facebook, Twitter and Google's YouTube have greatly accelerated their removals of online hate speech, reviewing over two-thirds of complaints within 24 hours, new EU figures show. The European Union has piled pressure on social media firms to increase their efforts to fight the proliferation of extremist content and hate speech on their platforms, even threatening them with legislation.Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube signed a code of conduct with the EU in May 2016 to review most complaints within a 24-hour timeframe.The companies managed to meet that target in 81% of cases, EU figures seen by Reuters show, compared with 51% in May 2017 when the European Commission last monitored their compliance with the code of conduct.EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova has said previously she does not want to see a removal rate of 100% as that could impinge on free speech.She has also said she is not in favour of legislating as Germany has done. A law … [Read more...] about Social media firms ‘accelerate’ hate-speech removals

BRUSSELS: Social media companies Facebook, Twitter and Google's YouTube have greatly accelerated their removals of online hate speech, reviewing over two-thirds of complaints within 24 hours, new EU figures show. The European Union has piled pressure on social media firms to increase their efforts to fight the proliferation of extremist content and hate speech on their platforms, even threatening them with legislation.Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube signed a code of conduct with the EU in May 2016 to review most complaints within a 24-hour timeframe.The companies managed to meet that target in 81% of cases, EU figures seen by Reuters show, compared with 51% in May 2017 when the European Commission last monitored their compliance with the code of conduct.EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova has said previously she does not want to see a removal rate of 100% as that could impinge on free speech.She has also said she is not in favour of legislating as Germany has done. A law … [Read more...] about EU: Social media firms accelerate hate-speech removals